Australia’s top science awards organisers are this year offering a major new prize for research that improves the environmental sustainability of growing introduced grains.

The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes will include a new $10 thousand award, sponsored by The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC).

"This prize will be awarded to an individual, team or organisation for innovative grains research that has, or could result in, increased sustainability of the use of natural resources such as soil, species or ecosystems," says Roger Muller, Manager of the museum's Strategic Initiatives Unit overseeing the awards.

The new GRDC prize could be awarded for research:

• that provides environmental benefits by the more precise delivery of inputs to meet crop demands;
• into the use of grain species to bioremediate environmental pollution for environmental and economic benefit;
• into environmentally beneficial uses for by-products of the grain industry.
• into either conventional or GM biotechnology - biotransformation - of grains for environmental and economic benefit;
• that develops the role of Australian native plants in ecologically-sound grain production systems.

"The prize is part of a 3-year commitment to the Eureka Prizes by the GRDC. In 2005 they will award a prize for outstanding leadership or mentoring in the implementation of more sustainable agricultural systems that generate significant benefits to regional communities," said Mr Muller.

The Eurekas are the premier and most comprehensive national science awards. They reward outstanding Australian science and raise the profile of science in the community.

The GRDC prize is one of three new awards in 2003 amongst a record 21 prizes worth $210 thousand in the fields of education, industry and innovation, research and science communication. The Eurekas started in 1990 with three prizes valued at $20 thousand.